Twenty years ago, I traveled to northern Uganda in the midst of an active conflict. I went unsure of what I could do, but deeply moved by accounts of children—some as young as seven—abducted by Joseph Kony and the Lord’s Resistance Army and forced to serve as child soldiers. More than 60,000 children and young people were estimated to have been abducted. By 2006, thousands were escaping and returning home. But many found that their families had been killed, their communities had been displaced, and there was nowhere safe to return. Because of what they had endured—and, in many cases, what they had been forced to do—many were rejected by the very communities that should have welcomed them home.

I will never forget the young people I met: the stories they could share, and the painful silence around the experiences too traumatic to put into words. Nearly one-third were girls—many returning pregnant or already caring for children of their own.

Having worked with vulnerable youth in the United States, I understood that healing would not be quick or easy. Their path toward safety, belonging, education, and hope would be long and painful. I could not simply return home and do nothing.

That conviction helped me launch ChildVoice twenty years ago, with a clear purpose: to restore the voices of children and young people silenced by war.

Why Kilimanjaro?

This October, I will trek Mount Kilimanjaro. I do not pretend that a difficult climb can compare with the unimaginable journeys these young people have endured. But I am drawn to challenges—whether cycling across Iowa or climbing Africa’s highest peak—as a tangible reminder of the endurance, courage, and resilience required to move forward through hardship.

Every difficult step on this trek will represent the long journey toward restoration that children affected by war face every day. For that, I need your help.

My Ask

My goal is to raise $20,000 to support ChildVoice programs serving children and families affected by conflict in Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Moldova, and Ukraine.

Your gift will help provide pathways toward healing, safety, education, practical support, and renewed hope for youth whose childhoods have been disrupted by war.

With dozens of active conflict zones around the world, the need is immense. ChildVoice envisions being present wherever children and communities have been harmed by war—helping restore dignity, opportunity, and voice.

Will you join me with a gift toward my $20,000 Kilimanjaro goal? Just click on the Donate Now button under the thermometer on the left to make your gift. No contribution is too small. Together, we can help ensure that children silenced by conflict are seen, heard, and given the opportunity to build a different future.